Born in Childrens Hospital on California Street in 1948. Moved to the suburbs in my 20’s. Moved to San Diego in 1991 for work, returned in 2001. Finally made it back to the City in 2005.

Sadly that idyllic time ended in 2010 with the Bush recession. I must be that rare person that actually lost money in San Francisco Real Estate.

I ran away to Barcelona, living on savings for two years. When the money ran out, I returned in 2012 and lived in Parkmerced. Got a commission only job selling cars for my friend at a Serramonte dealership.

Eventually got a minimum wage plus tips job in the City, A car became too expensive so I got wherever I need to go on public transit.

I hit the end of the road in 2018. I lost my job as a tour guide and finding a new job at age 69 that paid enough to afford living in San Francisco was problematic at best.

So I sold everything and left the United States to live in South America. With Trump as president the future awaiting the United States for all but the wealthy looked bleak.

I have tried for years to show friends and acquaintances who have never been there what San Francisco actually feels like to live there. Everyone has seen the iconic images: The great bridges, the Pyramid, the cable cars, Union Square, the neon in Chinatown, the Ferry Building, the Painted Ladies, AT&T Park or the buildings in Golden Gate Park.

Amazing views but to me, none of these views ever captured real life for working people in the City.

These images just nailed it for me. So beautiful, yet simple and so expressive. The old, gray dowager, wise and knowing, who lives across generations. Not a single hill in any of them.

Now that is the real San Francisco. Thanks for taking them and sharing them. Sorry we both had to leave.

Life is certainly more affordable outside the United States. I think Barcelona, Amsterdam and Berlin are worthy competitors to San Francisco.

But San Francisco is unique in all the world. Also, the most expensive city in the world. I miss the City but doubt I could even afford to vacation there.